The city of Dreaming Spires ranks high as one of the best places to visit in England. Famous for its prestigious university, it might be hard to imagine the city without thinking of boorish old scholars rushing to lectures. However, the city of scholars is in reality a delightful town filled with history, beauty, and architecture.
And this is what to do when you go visiting.
Top 10 Things to Do in Oxford
1. Explore the Bodleian Library
2. Dive into Art and Archaeology at the Ashmolean Museum
3. Go Punting on the River Cherchill
4. Take a Tour of Oxford Historic Campuses
5. Experience a walk back in time in Oxford Castle and Prison
6. Shop your way through the Covered Market
7. Wander the Holy Grounds of Oxford Historic Churches
8. Visit the Oxford University Museum of Natural History
9. Take a stroll inside Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum
10. Visit the Story Museum
Things to Do in Oxford
Here are 10 fun things to try out while you visit Oxford.
1. Explore the Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest and most magnificent libraries in Europe. Founded in 1602, it has been at the heart of university life at Oxford for over four centuries and now houses more than 13 million printed items. The Library has seen generations of students, academics, and researchers come and garner knowledge from the books on its walls. And indeed, the library has some of the oldest and most valuable collections of books in Britain. As a legal deposit library, it receives a copy of every book published in the UK and Ireland.
The good news is that everyone has access to the Library as long as you are above 18 and show proof of identification. Visitors can also explore the Bodleian’s architectural treasures, from the medieval Divinity School, with its breathtaking fan-vaulted ceiling, to the Radcliffe Camera’s iconic circular reading rooms. It is advisable to go for the guided tours if you are a true library, historical, or architectural connoisseur. Then, you can fully enjoy rare access to historic chambers, centuries-old manuscripts, and fascinating stories of scholarship, politics, and literature.
Location: Broad Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Price Range: £10
2. Dive into Art and Archaeology at the Ashmolean Museum
The Ashmolean Museum is Britain’s oldest public museum and one of Oxford’s greatest treasures. Founded in 1683, the museum’s vast and varied collections span thousands of years and multiple continents. You must be thinking ancient Egyptian sculptures and mummies, classical Greek pottery, Arabian art, Renaissance masterpieces, and modern Chinese creative art, and you would be right.
The museum is so large, you probably need more than a day to see all its displayed collections. Although the museum is free, you do need to pay a fee for specific exhibitions, like a spotlight on baroque highlights and other workshops and talk shows. Ashmolean might be inside a college cit,y but that doesn’t make it any less family-friendly. There are also several galleries that are dedicated to kids’ education and fun. They can pretend to be gladiator soldiers or get close to Egyptian mummies.
Don’t forget to get a cup of tea at the Ashmolean Rooftop restaurant and goodies at the gift shop.
Location: Beaumont Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Price Range: Free
3. Go Punting on the River Cherchill
A trip to Oxford is incomplete without punting across the River. Basically, it is drifting along the gentle River Cherwell in a relaxing daze while sipping a drink. A culture tied to the city’s traditions. The punt generally accommodates 5 people, 4 seated and one standing at the edge, rowing a long paddle. Now, the true test of character is convincing someone else to do the real rowing while you pretend to commend them. If you’ve got no one, you should consider hiring a professional guide to do the work while sharing stories of Oxford’s history.
While you sip your drink and have a light snack, you get to enjoy postcard-perfect views of Oxford from the water. College gardens, meadows, and the iconic Magdalen Bridge, views of the dreaming spires, and the deer park are among the highlights. It is also a perfect spot for an afternoon date.
Location: 50 Bardwell Road, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Price Range: £24 – £26 (Per Hour)
£120 – £130 (Full day)
4. Take a Tour of Oxford Historic Campuses
The University of Oxford currently has 36 colleges, each steeped in history and self-governing autonomy within the university. A tour of the colleges is the best way to experience the city’s centuries-old academic traditions and history. Many are nature refuges and architectural masterpieces that they feature all the time in movies.
Colleges such as Christ Church, with its vast meadow and dining hall made famous by Harry Potter; Magdalen, where deer graze in the meadow by the river; and New College, with its medieval cloisters and soaring chapel. You are free to roam about cobblestones and marvel at the beauty, or you can participate in guided tours. The latter provides fascinating insights into college customs, student life, and the illustrious alumni who once walked these same paths.
Location: University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Price Range: £25 (Adults)
£17 (Children)
5. Experience a walk back in time in Oxford Castle and Prison
Oxford Castle dates back to 1071, one of William the Conqueror’s many castles built as a testament of his power. More than just ruins, the site was later transformed from a Norman stronghold to a Victorian penitentiary in 1230. The prison later gained a reputation for keeping some of the most dangerous prisoners. Over the next hundreds of years, the prison castle would extend its building and walls and take in more inmates until it was eventually closed in 1996. Some believe, though, that the ghosts of the executed prisoners still roam the castle.
A visit includes a tour of Saxon St. George’s Tower, one of the oldest buildings in Oxford, for sweeping views of the city skyline. Beneath ground level lies the crypt of St. George’s Chapel, a haunting space with ties to Oxford’s earliest religious communities. The castle mound, or motte, still stands as a reminder of William the Conqueror’s defensive fortress. Guided tours are often led by costumed characters, who bring the stories of former prisoners, Norman knights, and medieval residents to life.
Location: 44 – 46 Oxford Castle, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Price Range: £18 – £20 (For Adults)
£11.75 – £13 (For Children)
6. Shop your way through the Covered Market
The Covered Market started out in 1774 as a simple market of vegetables and produce. Since then, it has been an important commercial center in Oxford for over 250 years. Some of the oldest parts of the market still have their wrought-iron roof and charming old-world architecture, making it more than just a shopping destination but a living history.
Inside is a maze of narrow passageways that leads you past an eclectic mix of butchers, fishmongers, and greengrocers. Many of whom have been serving Oxford residents for generations. Alongside these traditional stalls are the constantly changing selection of independent boutiques, artisan food producers, and quirky gift shops that keep the market lively. Food lovers will also find plenty to tempt them, from freshly baked bread and pastries, locally sourced cheeses, to international street food. The market is a particular favorite for Oxfordians out for coffee or a light lunch, with several cafés and juice bars dotted throughout.
Location: The Covered Market, Market Street, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Price Range: Free (But do hold enough money for anything you would like to purchase)
7. Wander the Holy Grounds of Oxford Historic Churches
Oxford’s iconic nickname, “City of dreaming spires,” for sure came as a result of its many medieval churches. Some of the most prominent amongst them are Christ Church, St Mary Magdalen, St Giles Church, Trinity Church, and many more. Chief among them is the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, whose tower offers one of the best views in the city.
Another popular church is Christ Church Cathedral, one of the oldest buildings in Oxford. It is a rare building that serves both as a college chapel and a cathedral. With its high Gothic architecture and beautiful cloisters, it is one of those places where history, spirituality, and academic life somehow intertwine.
For something even older, you can visit St Michael at the Northgate, home to a sturdy Saxon tower dating back to around 1050 AD. This makes it the oldest surviving building in Oxford. You can even climb the tower for another beautiful vantage point and a full insight into the city’s deep medieval roots.
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Price Range: £14 – £18
8. Visit the Oxford University Museum of Natural History
The Oxford University Museum of Natural History was established in 1860 and is housed in a striking Victorian Gothic building. The museum was created as a place to gather collections of scientific studies and is one of the city’s most captivating attractions. The soaring glass-roofed atrium is as much a marvel as the collections it houses, flooding the space with natural light that highlights the intricate stonework and iron columns.
Inside, visitors encounter a world of scientific wonders, towering dinosaur skeletons including a T. rex and Triceratops, delicate displays of insects and minerals, and even a rare specimen of the extinct dodo. The museum still serves as the heart of several scientific research and fieldwork, and is very accommodating of school children.
The museum is as engaging for families as it is for serious academics, offering interactive exhibits and a sense of discovery that appeals across generations. Best of all, entry is free, and it is adjacent to the Pitts River Museum, so both can be enjoyed at once.
Location: Parks Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Price Range: Free
9. Take a stroll inside Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum
The oldest botanical garden in Britain and one of the oldest in the world, Oxford Botanical Garden was founded in 1621. Originally created as a physic garden to grow medicinal plants for university scholars, it has evolved into a library of over 5,000 plant species. The garden is tucked beside the River Cherwell and offers a tranquil oasis just minutes from the bustle of the High Street. A remarkable difference from all the stones and architecture.
Visitors can wander through beautifully maintained walled gardens, rockeries, and water features, or step into glasshouses housing exotic tropical plants that thrive in recreated climates. Throughout the seasons, the garden thrives, transforming from spring blossoms to autumn colour, making every visit unique.
If you want to explore further, the garden is partnered with the Harcourt Arboretum, located just outside the city. The Arboretum includes vast parkland, wildflower meadows, and towering trees that provide a very different but equally enchanting experience.
Location: Rose Lane, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Price Range: Free
10. Visit the Story Museum
The Story Museum is one of Oxford’s most imaginative and family-friendly attractions, dedicated solely to the power of stories. The museum is housed in a redeveloped historic building in the city centre and transforms literature into an immersive, interactive experience. Its major aim is to celebrate storytelling in every form, through books, myths, oral traditions, or performance. Instead of static displays, Story Museum uses multi-sensory installations and playful environments designed to spark creativity and a love of reading.
Some of the most interesting sights include the Whispering Wood, where you can wander through an enchanting indoor forest. Or the Enchanted Library with reimagined scenes from beloved classics, such as slipping through the wardrobe into Narnia or tumbling into the curious world of Alice in Wonderland. There is also Small Worlds, a special gallery for under-fives, filled with nursery rhymes, picture-book characters, and hands-on activities perfect for early learners. Lastly, there is the Treasure Chamber, a rotating exhibition space showcasing themed displays, from comics and fantasy to local history.
Beyond these exhibitions, the museum also runs several events, including author talks, storytelling sessions, creative workshops, and family-friendly performances.
Location: 42, Pembrook Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Price Range: £3 – £5 (For Children)
£14 (For Adults)
Conclusion
Oxford is a hub of culture, traditions, and history, one of the best places to visit in England. It is not a city you can fully take in on a single visit, but a place that rewards return trips. Each time reveals a new layer of history, culture, and quiet charm that is both educative and exhilarating.
